Sir Richard Lexington Sutton, 9th Baronet 1937-2021

 An aristocratic multi-millionaire hotelier was stabbed to death at his country estate, police have said.

Sir Richard Lexington Sutton, 9th Baronet, who owns hotels on Park Lane including the Athenaeum and the Sheraton Grand, was attacked at his home in Higher Langham, near Gillingham. 

The father of two and a woman in her 60s suffered stab wounds during the incident. 

Sir Richard, who was 83, was declared dead a short time later while the woman was airlifted to Southmead Hospital in Bristol where she remains in a critical condition.

A 34-year-old man was arrested in the Hammersmith area of London on suspicion of murder after a vehicle was stopped by the Metropolitan Police.

The suspect, who was also from the Gillingham area, was later taken to hospital for treatment to injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

Dorset Police said the arrested man and the victims were known to each other.

In a statement, Sir Richard’s company said they are “deeply saddened and devastated” by his sudden death. 

“Sir Richard was a caring, generous and warm family man, who genuinely regarded those who worked for him as part of his extended family. 

“Sir Richard was passionately devoted to both his company and its people, setting the highest and standards for quality  in the hotels, farming and property interests within the group.

“His loss will be felt by everyone within the company, those who worked with him, and his family who have lost an incredible individual. Our thoughts are with the Sutton family at this tragic time.”

Sir Richard owned thousands of acres of land across the country, including estates in Lincolnshire, Dorset, and Aberdeenshire, as well as property and hotels in Mayfair and Soho, central London. 

Sir Richard, who succeeded as the 9th Baronet, in 1981, was worth an estimated £301m in May 2020, placing him 435th on the Sunday Times' Rich List.

Detective Inspector Simon Huxter, who is leading the investigation, said: "Our thoughts are with the family of the man who sadly died and the injured woman at this extremely difficult time and they are being supported by specially trained officers.

He was born 27 Apr, 1937, the son of Sir Robert Lexington Sutton, 8th Baronet [1897-1981], and his wife the former Gwynneth Gwladys Gover, and succeeded to the baronetcy, in 1981.

He married 2 March, 1959, Fiamma Ferrari, daughter of Giuseppi Ferrari, of Rome, by whom he had issue, a son, David, and a daughter, Caroline. The son, who was born 26 February, 1960, succeeds to the baronetcy.

-=-